Vu applied for a Coastal Development Permit (CDP) to build a 1200 square foot 2-story companion unit over a 330 square foot garage, with an existing 1,244 square foot dwelling unit on the property. Vu said she would live in the new building, which is at the rear of the property, right off the alley; she’ll rent out the older house (not for short term rentals, she claimed).

The granny flat (accessory dwelling unit or ADU) will have 2 bedrooms and 2 baths, with storage and parking on the sloped ground level. The height is 29 feet.

Even though there’s no new parking being added, there are 4 parking spaces on the lot, including the new garage. Vu is not required to add parking due to the state law on granny flats, as no additional parking requirement is legally called for as the property meets one of the exceptions – it’s within a public transit area, the #23 bus on Orchard and Ebers.

Drawings of the Wilson residence.

Companion Unit at 4741 Brighton Approved

The companion unit at 4741 Brighton – the Wilson residence – was approved by the Board by 5 to 0. The Wilsons applied for a CDP to demolish an existing garage and then construct a new 2-car garage with a 699 square foot granny flat above. It’s 22 12 feet tall. There’s no new parking being added.

There’s a small 2 bedroom front house on the lot which the Wilsons rent out as long term rental. Nick Wilson has had the property and the original house -built in 1926 – in his family since 1973. Nick and Virginia told the board again they’d agree to place a deed restriction prohibiting any short term vacation rentals on the property in the future.

Board member Tom Gawronski said there is no tandem parking allowed east of Sunset Cliffs Boulevard – which this property is – and fairly demanded the developer remove any language with “tandem” out of all the construction documents – which he agreed to do.

4828 Long Branch

And Jane Gawronski, another board member, commented that without the new law on granny flats, “this project wouldn’t pass.”

Single-Family Residence Conversion from Garage at 4828 Long Branch Approved

Drawing of view of side of conversion.

The owner of the property at 4828 Long Branch Avenue had applied for a CDP to convert an existing 685 square foot garage into a one-story 750 square foot singe family dwelling unit with additions and alterations to the space. The house will have 2 bedrooms and 2 baths.

Front of new building – from street.

It will only be 16 feet in height, and there will be 2 parking spaces back off the alley in a closed garage. There is no other existing unit on the property, as originally the large lot was split and the existing garage was on the western portion.

Once built, the owner does intend to sell it, he told the Board. He also admitted he has some short term vacation rentals in OB. He has owned the property for a year. The Board voted 5 to 0 to approve the project.

_____________________________

Councilman Chris Ward Proposes Ban on Styrofoam / Polystyrene

Councilman Chris Ward gave a presentation to the Board about his proposed polystyrene ban. (Very similar to the one he gave before the OB Town Council last week.) Ward said the full Council could vote on it in early October. The Rules Committee he sits on approved his measure 3 to 2, so he has at least 3 votes – he needs at least 5. When asked about where Councilmember Lorie Zapf was on the issue, Ward wasn’t certain, and urged OBceans to contact her to get her to support the ban.

The Board voted 4 to 1 to give the effort their full support, and plan a letter to be sent to the Council and the Mayor and especially to Zapf’s office.

Blake’s Bomb-Shell

At the very end of the meeting, after a long presentation about changes coming to the San Diego Airport, particularly to Terminal One, Board Chair Blake Herrschaft announced the meeting was to be his very last as chair, as he and his wife are moving to Tahoe – where she has a new job, and where he can continue his work as an energy consultant from their new home.

There were audible gasps and moans when he made his surprise announcement. He leaves town Monday. And he got a round of applause for his service. He was only elected chair in March, having served as vice-chair for a number of years.

Andrea Schlageter, the current vice-chair, will serve as acting chair, with the Board to hold another selection of chair very soon.

San Diego Free Press

Keep in Touch!

Welcome to the OB Rag – Ocean Beach & Beyond

The OB Rag has been initiated to ply the Ocean Beach community and the San Diego scene with news and commentary from a distinctively progressive and grassroots perspective, and to provide a forum for those views. Others with similar views are invited to contribute and participate. More about us...

Support the OB Rag! Purchase old copies - 20% off Help keep the OB Rag online by donating to buy 30-35 year old issues of the original OB Rag, Ocean Beach's infamous and iconic counterculture, underground newspaper; limited numbers are available for purchase!